With City being limited next season to 17 non-homegrown players in the Premier League and 16 in the Champions League after breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, the signing of Mangala would push them over the limits and they may be forced to offload both Negredo and Javi Garcia.

Negredo has also reportedly told City that he wants to move back to Spain having joined from Sevilla last summer for around £16m - scoring 23 goals in his debut season in the Premier League - although the player has denied that he is homesick.

It seems unlikely any club would move for him during the summer transfer window now, even if City were prepared to sell, now he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.